The Columbia Public School Board voted unanimously Monday night to extend the district’s 2021-22 Coronavirus plan.
Prior to the Board’s vote to extend the 2021-22 Coronavirus mitigation plan, Superintendent Brian Yearwood said recent guidance from health officials has him hopeful. He said the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ recent adoption of the CDC’s recommendation for children ages five through 11 to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine could help make indoor mask-wearing an option.
“The district may receive guidance regarding the removal of indoor masking requirement after the vaccination time frame for our elementary students, he said. “As long as this is implemented and coupled with the current trends of decreased case positivity in our community.”
Board member Katherine Sasser followed up public comment on the item by adding that CPS schools will notify students and families about optional COVID-19 vaccination clinics across its schools this month.
“Clinics are going to provide very specific information about how to opt-in if families want to,” she said. “By no means is it requiring all students to get vaccinated in the clinics.”
Before public comment came to a close, many community members came forward to express their stance on the board’s mask mandate.
Julia Kim is a sophomore from Rock Bridge High School that thanked the board for its continued mitigation efforts. She noted that despite the public discernment the board received from CPS parents, she personally felt safe with the mask mandate. She said parents shouldn’t be the only ones with a say on the matter too.
“Our student autonomy and our own voice is extremely important in school concerns as well as health concerns.
Kim is one of multiple CPS high school students who took to the podium to share their personal experiences. Lea Davidson, a junior at Hickman High School, later told the board she doesn’t believe masks aren’t safe but that the board should not be the ones to decide on a mandate.
The board heard from over a dozen community members sharing similar concerns in regard to the mask mandate.
After the vote, the board approved an adjustment to a state-mandated recording policy that allows parents to record Individualized Education Plan meetings (504 plans). The adopted policy is supported by Missouri House Bill 432.
